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What is your top preferred career? This is a common question for school-going children. Children possess aspirations that are so simple and pure. As kids grow older, their thinking sort of reverses. Rather than dreaming, they somewhat fine-tune their career aspirations to the obstacles they have faced in life. This way of thinking has greatly fueled the shortages in specific occupations, more so those that need top levels of education. If you examine any database on job searches, the majority of positions point out education requirements. This article highlights a list of the top 10 most elusive careers.

1) Forest fire inspector

A forest fire inspector is not a high-profile job but if it’s your passion it won’t be easy to secure a job. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics says that only 38 inspectors will be needed between 2014 and 2016.It further states that in 2012 over 1500 people were employed as forest fire inspectors. This makes the opportunities in this field even slimmer.

Astronauts operate spacecrafts and will obviously need to have experience piloting military jets. Before they can be given the green light to go to space, an astronaut will need to have years of ground experience, which can be acquired in space center simulators. For you to qualify for this position you must be at least 36 years old, in top mental and physical mental condition. The probability of emerging an astronaut is much higher than those of becoming the US president.

3) Senior level scientists

Senior level scientists like biophysicist and biochemists generally earn a Ph.D. Before they get to this senior level they spend several years on their way up the rank from assistant research scientists. According to the Bureau labor and statistics, the number of employed biochemists and biophysicists will grow rapidly with 5,200 additional openings by 2022.

4) Private Chef

Private Chefs often serve the very wealthy clientele, including CEOs and individuals who are very successful – financially. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics outlooks show only 170 private chef opportunities between 2007 and 2016. Currently, just 960 private chefs are in employment.

5) Model

Do you want to be the next top model? It isn’t as easy as you might have thought. Models usually showcase the latest of fashion and style and appear in various commercials. There are less than 90 top profile career openings for models each year in the US, and there are only 1600 of them available today.

6) Computer & information research scientists

To work this job, you’ll minimally need a Ph.D. in computer science, plus minimum 5 years worth of work experience. Based on information extracted from the Bureau of labor and statistics, there are just about 25, 000 individuals holding this position globally. It’s estimated that about 4000 new opportunities could open up by 2022.

7) Professional athlete

Based on mathematical odds the chances of being struck by lightning are higher than those of becoming a pro athlete. Today there’re just 9,400 pro athletes in employment.

8) Referee

Its fun refereeing amateur sporting events but making it to this position is going to be tough. Statistics show that you have better odds of becoming a model than you do with a professional referee .There are only 1,900 employed referees making the opportunities slimmer. The openings in this position are so few that landing in this profession is nearly statistically impossible.

9) High –ranking military positions

Military Officers holds at least a university degree and they start out at lower ranks. That means it takes years of service before they can get higher ranks. That makes it super hard to score a top ranking military position! Actually, there are only a few of these positions available per each military base in the U.S.

10) Judges

Judges obtains a law degree and later spends many years working in the law field as lawyers. Judges are appointed into their positions. There are 750,700 lawyers and the employed judges are only 27,300 according to the Bureau labor and statistics recent report.

Conclusion

It’s difficult to secure a position in any of the above fields. However, there are various other careers with more than enough openings. Most of those other jobs have salaries higher than some of what’s listed above. Just for mentions, a few other careers that face a shortage include software engineers and anthropologist among others. Such jobs require extensive preparation and commitment.

One way to boost your carrier is making sure you have got the skills that employers pay more for. Learning such skills is a great way of improving your chances of getting more from the job you already do. Moreover, a new skill can also help you get more out of life in general.

Skills are categorized into two: hard skills and soft skills. To learn the hard skills, one needs to enroll in some sort an educational program where she receives practical training and classroom instructions as well that will certainly give your career a boost. On the other hand, the soft skills are the personal skills and character qualities or traits each one of us has. There are less tangible when compared to the hard skills and you don’t always need to enroll in an educational program. There are also more preferred by an employer to hard skills.

Below are some of the skills that will give your career a boost:

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking skills

Problem solving can be defined as the ability to recognize a problem and provide possible solutions. On the other hand, critical thinking lets you know how to evaluate each possible solution, using reasoning and logic, to determine which one is likely to be successful.

Flexibility skills

This is being able to adapt to change in any workplace. If you are flexible, changing environments and situations do not put you under any pressure and you feel comfortable trying to things you have never done before such as new technologies and working practices. Technology is changing at a very fast rate and employers are now preferring those who can keep up to new ideas and embrace them appropriately.

Team working skills

You are a good team player if you are able to co-operate effectively with others and also work well in teams. Team working skills mean that you are confident within a group and you can contribute to new ideas and be assertive and positive, as well as being open to criticism and also taking a share of the responsibility.

Time Management skills

If you are good at meeting deadlines, then you have effective time management skills. Time management simply means being good at organizing. When you manage and organize your time effectively, you can be more efficient and productive, both of which most managers rate highly. Time management also means that you are good at doing several different projects and tasks at the same time and set goals that you can meet.

Communication skills

This is among the most important skills in almost any type of job. Those who have good communication skills can effectively express ideas in writing and verbally. Good communication skills also mean that you can be able to express what you want to say without being misinterpreted. Communication skills also incorporate being a good listener. This helps you understand what your manager, clients, and co-workers need. Something involving working in sales or communicating with the public needs good communication skills.

Body language is very important in an interview. You can say what you want, but if your body languages communicate a different story, you may seem arrogant and unreliable. What you say is also important, but the message your body is sending is what really matters.

At the end of the day, when you show up in a job interview, you want to look confident, but not over-confident and this can be a tough call. Here are 6 top tips to make sure that your body language is telling the right messages to the job interviewers.

1. First Impression

While waiting for your turn, don’t tuck your chin in the chest or hunch your shoulders. This makes you seem closed off. Instead, you should sit with your chest open and your back straight – signs that you are assertive and confident. Also, make sure you do not take this to the extreme. Throwing your arms at the back of the chair or elongating your legs can make you look arrogant and too comfortable.

2. Give a firm handshake

First of all, you should be the want to initiate the handshake. Stretch your fingers in a way that makes a 45° angle with the thumb. Then make sure you close your fingers around his/her hand. More so, avoid giving a soft handshake as this tends to give an impression that you feel uncertain.

3. Maintain eye contact

Eye contact is an important and reliable way of showing that you are engaged with the interviewers. People who are a bit nervous have a habit of letting their eyes flit around the room or over-fixing on someone. Maintaining your eye contact is not an easy thing to crack more so if you over-analyze it. The trick is getting an eye contact at the beginning of the interviews and moving them periodically, when appropriate. Three or four seconds of fixed regard is sufficient.

4. Lean in

Leaning in is usually a natural habit especially when you are engaged in a conversation. Lean in slightly forward while your chest is high and your shoulders back and down to demonstrate interest. Your body posture is an important part of your nonverbal conversations.

5. Avoid a tense impression with your fingers and hands

Hold and move your fingers and hands in a natural and calm manner when you are talking. Keeps your hands still when the interviewer is talking. Avoid rhythmic movements which can easily reveal your stress. If you touch your face too much or play with your fingers, you can be perceived as unreliable or insecure.

6. About Departing

When the interview ends, gather your stuff calmly, rise as you smile, and then nod your head. In case shaking hands with everyone else in the interview room is inconvenient, at least do it with the respective hiring person and also the person who brought you in for the interview. Do not allow any thoughts in your mind that might leave the interview with a negative impression.

Working women and men need to take special care of themselves. Studies show that a poor work-life balance may cause stress, reduced productivity, and even unhappiness. Many people find it more difficult to find balance in their lives because of having cutbacks where they work. Doctors’ visits are getting shorter since most do not have time to go for a checkup. Women are the most affected by the lack of good time management and work-life balance. Today feminism isn’t women doing it all but it’s about women not having to do it all. There are no pills you can take to achieve a work life balance but there are a few things you can do to help keep your sanity and enjoy your daily juggle of motherhood and your career. Whether working at home or in the office or both, here are some tips to help you find a healthier work-life balance.

1. Getting enough sleep

If you have trouble getting out of bed, getting tired easily, and trouble concentrating, you likely aren’t getting enough sleep. Recent medical research shows this can put you at a great risk of heart disease and other psychological problems. When you get enough sleep you wake up refreshed and strong and this helps to prevent caffeine cravings later in the day. To get enough sleep always avoid daytime naps.

2. Try being active outside of work

During your off days try to spend some time in nature to unload the stress of the workday and give your eyes and lungs a break. Join the gym, go for a walk or if stressed try breathing exercises to relax your mind. Do something nice for yourself like spending time with family, read a book or visit a friend to have some fun. Avoid watching TV since it’s another reason to sit instead of being active.

3. Move as much as you can

Take breaks every hour and move your body to stretch. Move while waiting for programs on the computer to load since this is an opportunity to burn calories. When you need to go to another floor in the building always consider taking the stairs instead of the elevator. You can team up with friends at work to take regular exercise breaks and to motivate each other.

4. Cut out on sugary snacks and candies

Snacks are everywhere in offices. They are tasty but they do not satisfy your true hunger since they are digested easily. Instead of visiting the vending machine bring your snacks from home such as cucumber slices, dried fruits or baby carrots. In case you cannot survive a sleepy afternoon in the office a piece of dark chocolate will do you good.

5. Take it slow

Making any changes in life is never an easy task. Always start small and keep them simple by setting a few realistic goals and see how you do. If you achieve your goals take the next step and some ones. If you find any obstacles in the way readjust your goals and try a totally different approach. When you start seeing results you will be motivated to move forward.

6. Find your balance

There is no perfect balance when it comes to career and motherhood. It’s up to you to prioritize and decide what you prepared to do and are not prepared to do. Don’t listen to any person telling you what you should do or should not be able to do. Always pay attention to your own needs and well-being. If you feel you are out of balance just look on what to reevaluate and be willing to re-negotiate your work duties and parenting duties as well.

7. See your doctor yearly

Make sure you get a medical test to check your body functioning and keep yourself from any health risk. You can go for cancer screening, HPV test, blood pressure and much more .Do not skip your yearly checkup .Your doctor needs to assess many other issues such as potential infections and sexual complaints. Medical checkup helps in keeping you informed about your health conditions and this keeps you feeling confidence and out of much stress.

8. Remember to compare is despair

Many woman loves comparing themselves with their colleagues and neighbors. Every woman faces her own struggles as a mother and worker. It’s time to move past Mommy wars and stop undermining and criticizing other women. It’s better to spend time and your energy supporting other women since in the long run, it will benefit us all.

9. Find a mentor

Do you know someone who has a successful career? Make a date with a person with a terrific personal life and ask him/her for advice on career development. Ask for information about time management and how to set priorities .This will help in proper management in your work environment and also in time distribution in order to have time for your own to exercise and take care of your family.

10. Redefine success

Women need to re-define the meaning of success today. Most women are sick and tired of the pressure to do it all. As mothers, women think, create and make mistakes thus realizing they are not super heroes and maybe never wanted to be. Women should learn to value the job of motherhood just as they do with their career.

Conclusion

When planning your week also make it a point to schedule time with family and friends and other activities that will help you recharge. Eat a balanced diet and avoid sugary drinks by taking plenty of water instead. To a healthy work-life balance, you have to be positive, set priorities and learn to say no. Not all pieces of advice help; some may lead us to failure so every career person must be wise.

Are you open to advice from other? Are you able to handle negativity well? If your answer to any of these two questions is negative then you the one holding yourself back. It’s very difficult for most of us to admit our faults but it’s important to be open and admit your weaknesses. Having a dilemma in something as significant as your career is a major weakness in many. Having a positive thinking will always boost your will to accomplishing your goals. It’s important to have someone to guide you along the way and inspire you in advancing your career. Here our top tips to inspire you in advancing your career goals.

1. Be open to change

As we all know there is an ongoing revolution in today’s workplace and you should not allow yourself to be subject to passiveness. With this kind of thinking most endeavors can never survive for long. It’s encouraging placing importance on new thoughts which can introduce a change for the better. Thinking and acting dynamically will help you to never run out of opportunities and ideas which in return help in achieving your dreams. You should always have enough courage to put your ideas into action and you will aspire to take the flight by so doing.

2. Look for guidance and wisdom

Go online and find out about your career. Talk to friends and generally be active in your pursuit of information. The advice you get from them may prove to be the catalyst that would change your life for the better. It’s always wise to take a career guidance test to gauge what type of career suits you. When deciding to shift to completely new career, career transition counseling is important to help you know your overall value as an individual.

3. Positive mindset

Believing in yourself and what you capable of is worthwhile. Criticism can knock your career journey down but in some cases it inspires it. It all depends on how you accept the criticism. Always stay focused on your plan, reach high and make honest targets. Always remember that those who think out of the box are the ones who make it to the top and are not afraid to take risk in realizing their career goals.

4. Power of planning

A good plan will give you direction and structure. Make a plan and write down what you want to achieve in a given period of time. Break this into week-by –week schedule to aid in your utmost achievement. Whether your plan is short term or long term you should make it detailed and stick to it. Always keep your plans fresh, achievable and inspired. Having good intentions will always give you good focus.

5. Yearn to highlight your individuality

Do you want to allow yourself be a robot taking orders from superiors? I bet not, this is why in the corporate and professional world highlighting your individuality is paramount. By placing much importance on your individuality it does not only raise yourself –awareness but also your self –confidence. For you to attain harmony and happiness in your chosen career you should be able to answer these vital questions. “Do I have passion in what I’m doing? Does my career suit me?” By answering these questions in a very positive manner shows that you possess the two important factors. These two factors include self-awareness and self-confidence.

6. Transform your desperation into inspiration

Learning how to turn your desperation to inspiration is a vitally important endeavor to move from feeling victimized and out of control in the face of your professional challenges. The key point here is learning, being more accountable, perceiving what’s happening as a highway for you to learn and grow. If you break yourself against the unfair positions you are in, rather than using them to help you be all you can be, you will not achieve the success you long for. Always find a way to turn your desperation to inspiration for growth, success and change.

7. Rewards

Enjoy your achievements as you draw closer and closer to your goals. Enjoy your hard work. Above all enjoy your free time too. Working so hard and for long hours to fulfill your ambition deserve daily rewards and treat. Work without play makes anyone a dull person so you need some time off to relax your mind and have fun.

Conclusion

For you to achieve your career goal you should not waste time and energy doubting yourself. Shield yourself from negativity as much as possible since it will only cripple you. Always stick to your big plan and strive in making it better. Having a true passion will help you love what you do thus inspire you to reach your career goals quicker. Achieving a career goal is always a marathon that’s why you should not be distracted from doing the simple thing right.

With how they neatly dress, how they are poised in walking the aisle of the airplane, how calm they speak to passengers, anyone can surely tell that being a flight attendant is tantamount to what beauty pageant ladies do. However being a flight attendant is not all about glitz and glamour. They too, have to undergo extensive training, have to deal with irregular sleeping hours and even encounter unruly passengers.

Tight Requirements

To become a flight attendant, aspirants need to be 18 years old and above and will only be required to have at least a high school diploma. But most employers would prefer to hire aspirants with college degrees. Moreover, a candidate who has undergone flight attendant training courses will have the bigger chance of being hired.

In addition to educational requirements, airline companies are as well scrupulous when it comes to physical appearance. Job candidates must have a weight that is in proportion to their height, good vision (other employers accept those that wear contact lenses), no tattoos, fair complexion, good set of teeth.

Once a jobseeker has been hired, Fas will then undergo four to five weeks of extensive training which covers different course topics like: Safety Equipment and Procedures, Aviation Security, First Aid, Food Preparation, Customer Service and Cabin Service and Uniform Standards.

Once the training is completed, new FAs will then bear a Reserve Status. This means that they will be called to replace or fill in an absent flight attendant or Fas that are vacationing. They will also be called should there be a need for more FAs for extra flights. The Reserve Status of a new FA will remain for at least a year or run for five to ten years.

What Does A Flight Attendant Do?

Basically, a flight attendant’s job is to make sure that the safety regulations set by the aviation law as well as the protocols of the airline company is properly observed. Moreover, they are also tasked to make passengers comfortable during the entire duration of their flight. Here’s a brief discussion of what a flight attendant usually does.

Flight attendants will be briefed by the airplane’s captain or the pilot in command an hour before the flight. The briefing usually include topics such as the emergency evacuation protocol, synchronization among the crews, the entire duration of the flight, the possible weather conditions and some special concerns related to the welfare of the passengers on board. Flight attendants also check the first-aid kits and other emergency equipment inside the plane. They test these equipment if they are working and that the cabin area is organized, including the foods, supplies and the goodies that the plane usually provide their passengers. When everything has all been set and that passengers will be told to board the plane, the Flight Attendants will be waiting at the plane’s doorstep to greet them, check their tickets, usher them to their assigned seats and assist them on placing their carry-on baggage.

Prior to departure with passengers properly seated, the flight attendants will then demonstrate the proper use of emergency equipment within the airplane, show passengers on how to lock and unlock their seatbelts, how they are supposed to be seated (upright position, especially during take-off) and the proper placing of carry-on items. When the plane has already taken off and is already on air, the flight attendants duty is to keep their passengers safe and comfortable. They will be helping the first people who will help passengers should there be any emergency. Some of their safety actions include calming their passengers if the captain calls that there’s a rough weather ahead and that they need to do an emergency landing. Flight attendants also attend to their passenger’s query regarding the flight; give them reading materials, provide them with pillows and blankets.

They also aid small children, elderly, disabled or other people that needs assistance. In addition to securing and providing their passengers with a good flight experience, Flight Attendants are also qualified to perform first aid should situations call for it. Some airlines provide their passengers with free meals while others will have them paid. Whatever the airline’s policies are, the flight attendants are responsible in serving beverages and other kinds of refreshments. They also serve passengers with precooked meals or snacks. Before the plane lands, flight attendants will perform the inventory of the plane’s headsets, the beverages as well as the money they had collected. They also make reports should there be any medical problems passengers may have experienced during the flight, lost and found items as well as the total condition of the cabin.

The Good and the Bad of Being a Flight Attendant

As said earlier, being a flight attendant is not all about glitz and glamour, not even about having a good life while on board. Here’s a discussion on how flight attendants go about their tasks as flight attendants.

Airlines don’t take breaks and they don’t take holidays per se. Because airlines run 24 hours a day every year, flight attendants will then have to work during the night, on holidays and even on weekends. Most of the time, the scheduled on-time duty for a flight attendant is only 12 hours maximum per day shift, while other companies require as long as 14 hours with greater number of hours for international flights. All in all, flight attendants usually spend 65 to 90 hours working every month with 50 hours more on ground works. Moreover, they are susceptible to injuries because of their need to stand while the plane is moving. During the entire period that flight attendants are away from their homes, they will be given with appropriate hotel accommodations and meal allowances.

The perk of becoming a flight attendant is that they have better chances of exploring different places. Although flight attendants don’t have a fixed schedule, they have the privilege to take long rests. By that it means, they can have as much as five days of break. With such long break and their privilege for discount fares, flight attendants have the advantage to travel and explore new places.